Kiko now a hurricane as it continues slow track westward

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Hurricane Kiko has weakened slightly to a Category 3 system that could still re-intensify far to the east-southeast of Hawaii.

Kiko is forecast to approach the Hawaiian Islands during the early to middle portion of next week. The risk of direct impacts from wind and rain from Kiko is increasing, but it is still too soon to say exactly where those impacts will occur and how intense they will be. Flooding rainfall is another possibility, starting as soon as Monday into early Thursday.

Kiko could also generate life-threatening high surf and rip currents, mainly for east-facing shores, starting later this weekend.

The National Hurricane Center said in data valid at 5 p.m., Kiko had maximum sustained winds of 125 miles per hour, a slight decrease from 130 miles per hour earlier Thursday.

Hurricane force winds extend 25 miles from the center, while tropical storm force winds extend 80 miles.

Kiko was located about 1,360 miles east-southeast of Hilo, or 1,565 miles east-southeast of Honolulu, and was moving to the west at 9 miles per hour.

A gradual turn toward the west-northwest is expected Thursday night into Friday, with a gradual increase in forward speed during the weekend.

Kiko is forecast to cross into the Central Pacific late Friday into early Saturday.

Forecast models predict that Kiko may re-intensify slightly into Friday. Over the weekend, it is expected to encounter cooler sea surface temperatures, increasing southwesterly shear and a dry airmass that would cause it to weaken rapidly as it nears the state. The current official forecast has Kiko approaching the islands as a tropical storm.

There remains some uncertainty over the forecast track, but you should use this time to prepare and make sure that your hurricane supplies and preparations are in order to keep you and your ohana safe.

Your First Alert Weather Team will continue to closely watch this system over the next several days.

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